British, US troops killed in Iraq

Three British soldiers from the Black Watch regiment and three US soldiers have been killed in attacks across Iraq.

05 Nov 2004 14:57 GMT

The Black Watch regiment is deployed south-west of Baghdad

British forces suffered a number of casualties, Armed Forces Minister Adam Ingram told parliament on Thursday.

"We have suffered a number of casualties including three fatalities. The process of informing their next of kin is under way," he told lawmakers in a brief statement.

The deaths bring the total number of British soldiers killed in Iraq to 73.

Prime Minister Tony Blair's official spokesman said the premier's "thoughts are with the Black Watch and the families of the Black Watch".

Some 850 British soldiers, mostly from the Black Watch regiment, are stationed at Camp Dogwood, 48km south-west of Baghdad.

The infantry unit recently relocated from the British-controlled sector in southern Iraq to relieve US troops expected to take part in a major assault on Falluja.

US soldiers killed

On the American side, two marines were killed and four wounded in action on Thursday in the Iraqi province of al-Anbar, which houses Ramadi and Falluja, the US military said. While on Friday, one US soldier was killed and another wounded in Balad by a roadside bomb explosion.

In other events, US warplanes launched five air strikes against suspected fighter positions in Falluja in the past 24 hours ahead of an anticipated assault on the Iraqi city, the US military said on Friday.